Chapter 1 The Message

"Ding."

The chat app notification sounded on his phone.

Pei Qian was in the middle of an intense battle on the big TV. He waited until the fight was over before putting down the controller and picking up his phone.

It was Coach Ya Ling sending in today's "training results report."

Regarding DGE Club, although Pei Qian felt that not participating in any official events had completely eliminated the possibility of it stabbing him in the back, he remained vigilant, acting on the principle that it's better to be safe than sorry.

In addition to the assigned loss-prevention student disguised as an assistant coach in the club, Pei Qian had also arranged a double insurance.

He had Coach Ya Ling send him the players' training results every day, urging the coach in her work!

Of course, the so-called training results were not about how many training matches they had played today or how many ranks the players had improved, but rather photos.

After training every day, these internet-addicted teenagers had to take photos wearing tight fitness clothes, and Pei Qian would use these photos to check Coach Ya Ling's achievements.

The logic was simple:

These internet-addicted teenagers were all spending a lot of time and energy on fitness training, and they were exhausted after training every day, so wouldn't they have no energy to train properly?

And the way to check whether they were training seriously was also very simple, just look at the changes in their figures.

After all, fitness is something that you can't slack off on. You might not see it in a short time, but over time, all your efforts will show in your figure.

Of course, people's physiques are different. Some people develop muscles after training for a couple of days, and quickly rebound after relaxing for a couple of days. Some people train for a long time and see results very slowly.

But overall, fitness is a matter of effort and reward, which is fairer than most things in this world.

And Pei Qian was going to use this to supervise DGE Fitness Club, oh no, DGE e-sports club!

Pei Qian flipped through the photos one by one, nodding frequently.

Well, the effect was immediate!

It could be seen that Coach Ya Ling was very dutiful and didn't slack off, training these internet-addicted teenagers very well. Each of them was getting bigger, their biceps and chest muscles were bulging, and their hunchbacks had also improved significantly.

Then I can rest assured!

Pei Qian put his phone aside, feeling a little proud.

After these players retire, he might be able to arrange fitness coach jobs for them in the managed gym, solving the difficult problem of re-employment for e-sports players.

This advanced model was far ahead of other clubs in the industry.

Too perfect!

...

...

May 28th, Saturday.

The flagship store of Managed Fitness Gym.

Guo Licheng had just finished his training. He wiped his sweat with a towel while doing post-workout stretches.

Another coach came over and asked, "Coach Guo, can I ask you something in private?"

Guo Licheng nodded. "Lao Bian, just say what you need to say."

Coach Bian looked around to make sure no one was there, and said in a low voice, "It seems like there are even fewer new members recently?"

Guo Licheng was a straightforward person and didn't think about hiding it. He said truthfully, "Yes. Our fitness meals have gone up in price again. They were already a bit expensive, and now they cost even more per meal, so customers who are short on money are of course less willing to sign up. Also, Coach Ya Ling's departure has had some impact..."

Coach Bian said in a low voice, "Then, how long do you think our gym can stay open? If we keep losing money like this, the boss will get anxious in a month or two, right?"

Guo Licheng's expression was calm. "Who knows? Anyway, from my observation, I don't feel like the boss is going to give up. On the contrary, he seems even more motivated. Besides, those branch stores are in worse shape than us. If anything closes, it'll be those stores first."

Coach Bian's voice was even lower. "Then, have you considered the possibility that all the stores will close down together?"

The two men's voices were getting lower and lower. After all, openly discussing the losses of their own gym and discussing which store would close first was too demoralizing to be widely publicized.

Guo Licheng picked up a dumbbell and handed it to Coach Bian. Coach Bian immediately understood and pretended to be practicing himself, but was actually whispering to Guo Licheng.

Guo Licheng said in a low voice, "We've been friends for years. I'll give you the inside scoop, but don't spread it around."

Coach Bian nodded. "Of course."

Guo Licheng's eyes were firm. "I think this gym will definitely make money, it's just a matter of time. Everything is within the boss's calculations."

Coach Bian showed a surprised expression. "Really? Then tell me quickly, what's the boss's plan? Why do you think this gym can be profitable?"

Guo Licheng sorted out his thoughts and said, "On the surface, the gym is indeed quite bleak. Recently, the price of fitness meals has gone up, and there are even fewer new members. These are all obvious things that everyone can see."

"But, have you noticed that those old members who come often have completely accepted this model, and their fitness results are extremely significant?"

Coach Bian was stunned for a moment, then thought about it. "Well, it seems like that's true. But I've also had private training students at other gyms who have made rapid progress, so it's nothing special."

Guo Licheng shook his head. "Wrong, the key is the proportion. How many of the students you trained as a private coach at other gyms were doing well and making rapid progress? A very small number, right? But here, all the students who stick around are making rapid progress! Is that the same?"

Coach Bian was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized, "Oh, that's right!"

He thought for a while, then said, "No wonder, we have mandatory fitness plans and mandatory healthy meals. Fitness is all about controlling your diet and exercising. Three parts training and seven parts diet. If you can guarantee both training and diet, then as long as you're a normal person, you can get results!"

"And although the price of fitness meals has gone up now, they taste better and are easier to stick to."

Guo Licheng nodded. "Yes, that's what I wanted to say!"

"Our gym does have fewer people, and a large number of people who can't stick to it have been persuaded to leave. But without exception, all those who can stick to it have immediate results! In other words, we've brushed away all the people who can't stick to it, and the people who are left will definitely see results!"

"Think about it, in the long run, this is a golden sign!"

"What kind of training classes are most popular? Those that guarantee passing! People nowadays aren't afraid of spending money, they're afraid of spending money without results, and the money being wasted. As long as you tell everyone that spending money will definitely lead to improvement, even if it's more expensive, people will definitely come."

Coach Bian frowned. "But, based on our current situation, we're not very popular."

Guo Licheng said, "Because the reputation hasn't spread yet! Think about how long it's been since we opened?"

"When our first batch of members has been working out for a few months and sees real changes, and even some fitness novices have achieved fitness goals that they've never been able to achieve before through our gym, then the word-of-mouth effect will naturally be established!"

"Combine that with the name of our gym, 'Managed Fitness Gym', once this name spreads, are you afraid that customers won't come to our door?"

"The reason why President Pei is willing to open branch stores even though the flagship store is still losing a huge amount of money must be because he has seen this phenomenon, and feels that the core members' fitness habits have been cultivated, and the expected brand effect has begun to show preliminary signs, so he decisively decided to open branch stores!"

"Otherwise, would a smart person like President Pei continue to lose money when he knows that opening a branch store will lose money? It doesn't make sense. He must have seen the prospect of profitability!"

The more Coach Bian listened, the more sense it made, and he nodded frequently.

"Then, Coach Guo, when do you think this reputation will be established and our gym will become popular?"

Guo Licheng thought for a while. "It's hard to say, natural heat spreads too slowly. But President Pei is a marketing master. Maybe when he feels the time is right, he'll just find an opportunity to promote it, and it'll be a hit? I've specifically learned that Tenda's internet cafes and computer assembly business were also originally unknown, and then suddenly became popular with one marketing campaign. I think President Pei is probably ready to do it again."

Coach Bian was sincerely convinced. "I see. If it weren't for your interpretation, Coach Guo, I wouldn't have known that our boss was thinking so much! It can only be said that people with brains like his should make a lot of money!"

"But, it's not easy for you to see so much, Coach Guo! No wonder the boss chose you to be the store manager."

Guo Licheng shook his head. "This isn't business acumen, I'm far from President Pei. I'm just making a reasonable inference based on my understanding of the industry, and it just happens to coincide with President Pei's thinking."

"I thought about it, and this may not be a coincidence. If a business model wants to be successful, it must solve the pain points of the industry."

"What are the pain points of the fitness industry? It's the mutual distrust between customers and gyms. This distrust is simply deeply rooted."

"Customers don't trust the gym, they think the gym is just trying to sell cards and classes every day, just to cheat their money, and they don't want to talk to the coach too much;"

"Coaches don't trust the gym, they have a pile of marketing targets, and they don't have the heart to properly train students;"

"The gym doesn't trust the customers either, they just think of taking advantage of them. Once they sell the card, they don't care about anything."

"Tell me, if the three parties don't trust each other, how can this be a good thing?"

Coach Bian nodded. "That's right, that's why a lot of people leave this industry!"

Guo Licheng continued, "But President Pei's model has eliminated all the distrust between the three parties at once!"

"Customers don't feel that the gym is cheating them out of money. The prices are clearly marked, and there is no deception, and your training results are absolutely guaranteed; the coaches can train and guide students with peace of mind, and they don't have to worry about selling classes all day long, and they can work steadily; the customers don't resent the coaches anymore; and the gym doesn't treat customers as leeks anymore."

"Look, everyone benefits from this model!"

"As for why the results aren't good now, that's because building trust takes a process, it takes a certain amount of time. When the time comes, trust will be built, and making money will be a natural thing."

Coach Bian nodded again, but soon had new confusion. "Then, according to what you said, this is a great thing, shouldn't we publicize it? Why can't we spread the word?"

"We have to tell others as soon as possible to let them build confidence in the gym!"

Guo Licheng said in a low voice, "What are you thinking! The boss has a plan, but that doesn't mean the plan has a 100% chance of success. If it doesn't succeed, and you blab it out, the boss will give you a hard time, right?"

"Just shut up and watch honestly. Isn't it better to praise the boss when it really succeeds?"

Coach Bian suddenly realized that it seemed to make sense.

Thinking of Yang Xiu in history, who always liked to blab about the boss's intentions everywhere, wasn't he punished? No boss likes subordinates who are smarter than themselves?

Coach Bian gave him a look of admiration. "Okay, Coach Guo, you're getting better at EQ!"

Guo Licheng waved his hand. "Hey, what's EQ? I'm just like you, I like this place too much, of course I don't want to see it close down."

Coach Bian deeply agreed. "Yes, that's right! Then we'll be low-key and quietly wait to see the boss's magical operation!"